Granted Patent B2

US 12,521,457 · App. 18/545,938 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Inventors: Barry M. Snyder (Hahira, GA); Clarence J. Snyder, III (Theresa, NY); Michele Mauzerall (St. Petersburg, FL); Maryellen Keenan (St. Petersburg, FL)

Assignee: STERICUBE SURGICAL SYSTEMS, LLC

A61L2/20A61B50/13A61L2/07A61B2050/105A61L2/0023A61L2202/122A61L2202/16A61L2202/24

Abstract

Claims (28)

1 . A method of sterilizing a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

loading a sterilization cabinet onto a transfer cart, wherein the sterilization cabinet comprises an interior sterilization chamber, wherein a surgical tray containing a surgical instrument is received within the interior sterilization chamber, and wherein the interior sterilization chamber is in a sealed configuration;

positioning the sterilization cabinet at a sterilization location adjacent to an autoclave using the transfer cart;

transferring the sterilization cabinet from the transfer cart into the autoclave using mechanical guides;

after sterilization of the surgical instrument within the interior sterilization chamber positioning the sterilization cabinet onto the transfer cart while the sterilization cabinet is in the sealed configuration; and

relocating the sterilization cabinet from the sterilization location using the transfer cart, while in the sealed configuration the surgical instrument remains sterile.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical guides further comprise a connecting rail on the transfer cart configured to mate with a companion rail on the autoclave.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adjusting the connecting rail between a first position wherein the connecting rail is aligned with a vertical axis, and a second position wherein the connecting rail is aligned with a horizontal axis.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the connecting rail is adjusted to a position aligned with a vertical axis while the sterilization cabinet is relocated from the sterilization location using the transfer cart.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the sterilization cabinet is constrained to move in alignment with the mechanical guides to guide the transfer cart into the autoclave.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adjusting the mechanical guides horizontally or vertically.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transferring the sterilization cabinet further comprises engaging a locking mechanism to engage the transfer cart and the autoclave.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a locking hook.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising locking a wheel lock on a wheel of the transfer cart.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising locking the sterilization cabinet to the transfer cart.

11 . A method for sterilizing a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

loading a sterilization cabinet on a dock of a transfer cart, the sterilization cabinet comprising an interior sterilization chamber, wherein a surgical tray containing the surgical instrument is received within the interior sterilization chamber, and wherein the interior sterilization chamber is in a sealed configuration;

positioning a connecting rail of the transfer cart in an extended position; and

transferring the sterilization cabinet from the dock into an autoclave via the connecting rail.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the connecting rail between a first position wherein the connecting rail is aligned with a vertical axis, and a second position wherein the connecting rail is aligned with a horizontal axis.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving the dock and the sterilization cabinet via a wheel assembly.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising arresting the motion of a wheel of the wheel assembly by actuating a wheel lock.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transferring the sterilization cabinet further comprises engaging a locking mechanism to engage the transfer cart and the autoclave.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising vertically and horizontally adjusting the connecting rail.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the connecting rail further comprises a tapered end.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sterilization cabinet is constrained to move in alignment with mechanical guides to guide the transfer cart into the autoclave.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising securing the sterilization cabinet to the dock by inserting a cabinet pin into a slot of the dock.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising redundantly securing the sterilization cabinet to the dock by locking a cabinet safety lock.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (216)